Golf club



W. F. REACH Oct. 29, 1935.

GOLF CLUB Filed March 31, 1952 l lllllllllllllllllllllllllll Itali,Illllll if lll n 'Wzziamea/ch,

Patented Oct. 29, 1935 iJNiTED STATES @PATENT OFFICE 2,018,897 GOLF CLUBWilliam F. Reach, Springfield, Mass., assigner to A. G. Spalding &Bros., corporation of New Jersey Application March 31,

25 Claims.

'I'he invention relates to that type of golf club which has a rubbersleeve within the hosel to provide a torsionally resilient connectionbetween the shaft and the One feature of the sleeve held in theinterposed between it head of the club.

invention concerns a rigid hosel with the rubber sleeve and the hosel toprovide for torsional or transverse resiliency and a connection betweensaid that the shaft can be the sleeve remains shaft and said sleeve soremoved or replaced while in place, said shaft fitting within the rigidsleeve of metal or the like and having such a conne ction with saidsleeve as will enable detachment and replacement of the shaft to beaccomplished.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the 'rigidsleeve with the rubber sleeve fixed thereto on its outer side will beheld in position within the displacement so that hosel againstlongitudinal the distortion of the rubber sleeve will not have theeffect of backing out or displacing the metal sleeve and shaft inrelation to the hosel.

The invention may forms.

In the drawing be embodied in different Fig. 1 is a longitudinalsectional view of so much of a golf club a the invention in one f Fig. 2is a view of rubber sleeve molded Figs. 2a and 2b are Fig. 3 is asimilar s is necessary to illustrate crm.

the metal sleeve with the thereon.

details.

View to Fig. 1 of another form of assembly embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is a View in section of another form of the invention.

In the drawing and referring first the head of the club form is shown at2 having hosel a rigid sleeve 4 to Fig. l, of substantially ordinary ahosel 3. In this preferably of metal is inserted together with a sleeveof rubber 5 which is vulcanized onto the The insertion of the tachedrubber `sleeve is soA made that makes contact with t driving fit degreeof he wall of the tightness and pressure that the rubber in eiect hasits outer surface substantially attached to the inner wall of the hoselby the strong frictional between them. The metal sleeve againstlongitudinal ways. catch lIi seated in the engagement may be helddisplacement in different In Fig. 1 is shown a two prong spring baseportion of the hosel by a screw threaded shank 1 engaging a screwthreaded socket in th e body at the base o! the New York, N. Y.. a

hosel. The spring catch has two prongs each of which has a shoulder at 8and an inclined face at 9. There is also a kerf IIJ between the prongsby which the spring catch may be engaged by a suitable tool like a screwdriver inserted through 5 the upper end of the hosel for screwing thecatch member into place or removing it `when necessary.

The metallic sleeveat its lower end and with-A in the same has attachedthereto, as for instance 10 by spot welding, a ferrule I I presenting ashoulderv I2 extending in an annular direction and Vthis shoulder isadapted to be engaged by the shoulders 8 of the spring catch member sothat the metal sleeve together with the rubber sleeve l5 vulcanizedthereon will be held in position against axial displacement whichotherwise might occur owing to the rubber being under pressure andhaving the quality of distortion, but not compressibility. The metalsleeve has a screw thread 20 I3 on its interior to receive the screwthreaded lower end of the shaft. This shaft S is of metal tubing, havinga downward taper, and the metal sleeve is formed with its bore tocorrespond, and confine the shaft therein.

Under the impact of the blow upon rhitting the ball there will be atorsional strain exerted upon the joint between the shaft and hosel andthis will be absorbed by the resilient rubber sleeve so that the shockwill not be transmitted to the hands of the player. 'I'he resiliency ofthe rubber sleeve will allow this torsional actionto take place and willrestore the parts to normal posi-v tion after the torsional action hastaken place. The rubber sleeve also provides for absorbing shocks andstrains exerted transversely to the axis of the shaft and hosel.

Should it be desired to renew a shaft or replace a broken shaft this canbe done by unscrewing it from the metal sleeve and screwing 40 intoplace within the sleeve a new shaft. This can be done without removingthe metal sleeve and its attached rubber sleeve which will remain inplace. A suitable washer I4 may be located between the body of thespring catch member and the bottom of the bore of the hosel.

In Fig. 3 a metallic sleeve 4a having a. rubber sleeve 5a vulcanizedthereto is held within the hosel by the driving t contact between therubber sleeve and the displacement of these parts axially in relation tothe hosel a cap member I5 isscrew threaded onto the exterior of theupper end of the hosel, said cap having an opening through which theShaft can be inserted into the metal sleeve. 'Ihe 55 wall of the hosel.To prevent metal sleeve.

' of Vthe resilient sleeve.

Yso

I sleeve'with the attached rubber may be dropped' into the hosel andthen by screwing the shaft intoy f The metallic sleeve l .to the taperof the shaft. The rubber sleeve in /canized to these sections;`

vcausing the rubber other words the degree derived by force exerted uponthe rubber sleevev vwedging action of tion with an iron club, the

yout'in the vaccompanying claims, is not limited to this character ofclub, but features of the ir'i`- sleeve is screw threaded at its lowerend to receive the screw threaded lower end of theshaft. Ay

first described the shaftV fits against the rinner wall of the metallicsleeve and torsional and transverse strains and shocks are absorbed bythe rubber sleeve. The shaft can be removed and replaced as in the formfirst described, all othe parts remaining in normal position. Y

Y yThestructures above described will permit re-y Anewal of a shaft incase of breakage without necessitating the returnfof the club'to thefactory. may be tapered to conform this event will be `gradually thickertowards its lower end. Y 'l In Fig. 4 isV shown another form of theinvention in which the metallic sleeve 4b is made in I longitudinalsections, the space between the'sec-v tions beingindicated at I8. Therubber 'is vull The tapered shaft when screwed into the sleeve sectionshas a Wedging action thereon forcing them outwardly and to engage thehosel under strong frictional contact sufficient tohold the sleeves inplace and thus connect the shaft firmly with the hosel( This frictionalcontact is sub'- stantially like vrthat derived Yfrom forcing thesleeves of the forms first described together with their attached rubbersleeve into the hosel. "In of tightness of the fit is and setting itinstrong frictional engagement with thehosel wall. The same torsionalaction is securedV as in the forms before described. The

rubber is in the form of sections 5c Yone'of which is vulcanized to eachsleeve section.

YThe same cap member may be employed screwed onto the hosel and a rubberwasher may' be employed bearing on the fiange of the sleeve.

the end of the hosel and In' this form ofthe invention the divided rigidplace the frictional contact of the desired degree of drivingfittightness may be secured'by then the vshaft forcing the sleeve Ysections apart.

While I have shown the invention in connecscope thereof, as V'setvention may be employed in connection with wooden head clubs.v

of rigid material as used in' a generic sense except AAAThe termr sleevein the appended claims yas otherwise modified includes the one piecesleeve divided sleeve of Fig. 4. In of the material of which of- Figs.1-3, or the both forms the rigidity Vthe sleeve is composed' willprevent the backing out tendency of the parts from the hosel under the 1action of the sive force.` In both forms the rigidity of the distortablerubber under compressleeve in a lengthwise direction lends itself to theuse of holdingmeans connecting it with the hosel to resist lengthwisedisplacement 'of the parts'and the upper end of the vand a shaft adapteddistortion of the rubberA v- In this form like in that vholding thesleeve of tudinal movement while allowing its expansion .between thesleeve Y the sleeve Vof rigid of the rubber sleeve, and in both formsthe sleevev is held so as to have rotative action, relative to` thehosel. Y

I claim: Y

l. A, golf club having la hosel, a sleeve of rigid material therein,split lengthwise, rubber torsional means between the sections of thesleeve of rigid material and the hosel wall to be inserted and heldwithin the sectional `sleeve and to spread said sections to firmly' seatthe rubber against the wall of Vthe hosel, and means on the hosel forrigid material against longiand rotative action substantially asdescribed.

2. A glof club according to claim 1 in which the rubber cushion means isaflixed tothe sections of Y thesleeve'of rigid material.

3.v A golf club according to claim 1 in which the shaft is tapered andscrew threaded to fit a correspondingly tapered and screw threadedportion of the split sleeve to spread the sections thereof.

4. A golfclub having a hosel,V a sleeve of'rigidl g a torsion sleeveunder pressure of'YV rigid material YVand the hosel, ysaid torsionalsleeve extending substan-` tially to the top of the first named sleeve,ashaft detachably connected with the latter, and means independent ofthe torsional sleeve for holding material against axial displacementwithin thehosel, while allowing it to yield circumferentially,substantially; as de-v scribed. f f

5,' A golf clubaccording to claim 4 in which the sleeve of rigidmaterial has a flange at its outer endV overlying the upper edge of thetorsion sleeve.

6. A golf club head and hosel assembly, apart material therein,

from `the shaft, comprising a rigid shaft socket .405-

from the shaft, comprising a rigid shaft socket` member located withinthe hosel coaxially ofthe same. and provided with means for detachablyVengaging the shaft of the club, means for preventing accidentaldisplacement ofthe socket'5 member lengthwise of the hosel and forperm-it'- ting rotative movement thereof' and a member carried byv thesocket hosel for renitently retardin'g-.rotation of the socket'memberinthe hosel. -Y

8. In a golf club, a self-contained'head as-A sembly and a shaft readilyremovable therefrom,

said assembly comprising a hosel, a tubular memember and engaging thetallic shaft socketmember extending axially of the hosel and having atapering portion and a threaded portion, a rubber Vsleeve 'vulcanizedytol the socket member andheld thereby in compressive coaction withihehosel for renitently re tarding rotative movement of thev member inrreference to the hosel, and means for preventing lengthwise movement ofthe socket member and for permitting rotative movement thereof inreference to the hosel, threaded portion complemental tothe threaded anda shaft having 'afp Yportion of the' socket member and a" tapering 75portion adapted to be drawn into wedgng engagement wtih the taperedportion of said member by the interaction of the threaded portion of theshaft with the threaded part of said member.

9. In a golf club, a self-contained head assembly and a shaft readilyremovable therefrom, said assembly comprising a hosel, a tubular shaft`socket member located axially of the hosel and having a taperingportion and a threaded portion, a rubber sleeve vulcanized to the socketmember and held thereby in compressive coaction with the hosel forrenitently retarding rotative movement of the member in reference to thehosel, and means carried by the hosel and engaging with the end portionof said member for preventing accidental axial and permitting rotativemovement thereof.

10. In a golf club, a self-contained head assembly and a shaft readilyremovable therefrom, said assembly comprising a hosel, a tubularmetallic shaft socket member extending axially of the hosel having atapering portion and a threaded portion, a rubber sleeve vulcanized tothe socket member and held thereby in compressive coaction with thehosel for renitently retarding rotative movement of the member inreference to the hosel, and means located at the bottom of the bore ofthe hosel for preventing accidental axial displacement of said member,said means being accessible through the shaft socket member for thedetachment thereof.

11. In a golf club, a self-contained head assembly and a shaft readilyremovable therefrom, said assembly comprising a hosel, a tubularmetallic shaft socket member having a tapering portion and a threadedportion, a rubber sleeve vulcanized to the socket member and heldthereby in compressive coaction with the hosel for renitently retardingrotative movement of the member in reference to the hosel, and meansassociated with the hosel and engaging the lower part of said member forpreventing accidental lengthwise and permitting rotative movementthereof, said means being accessible through the socket member fordetaching the latter from the hosel.

12. In a golf club comprising a self-contained head assembly and a shaftreadily attachable and detachable therefrom, said assembly comprising ahead, a hosel of considerable length having a long axial bore, asheet-metal tubular shaft socket member of practically the full lengththereof located in the same with its upper end practically ush with theupper end of the hosel, said member having a tapering part and athreaded part, a rubber sleeve xed to said member and covering asubstantial portion of the exterior thereof, the internal diameter ofthe sleevey being such that it will be held in compressive contact withthe wall of the bore of the hosel by the shaft socket member, and meansaccessible for manipulation through the latter, coacting with the hoseland member respectively, for holding the latter against accidentalmovement lengthwise of the bore of the hosel and for permitting it tohave rotative movement therein, and a metal shaft having its lower partthreaded for engagement with the threaded part of said member andanother part tapering for engaging the tapering part of the member.

13. The combination With a golf club head having a hosel of a sleeve ofrigid material in the hosel, means for preventing axial movement of thesleeve and permitting rotative movement thereof relative to the hosel, ashaft, means for 3 effecting a readily separable rigid connectionbetween the shaft and the sleeve, and a torsion member apart from thefirst named means interposed between the sleeve and the hosel.

14. The combination with a golf club head having a hosel of a sleeve ofrigid material in the hosel, Ameans for preventing axial movement of thesleeve and permitting rotative movement thereof relative to the hosel,said means having a threaded connection to the hosel, a shaft, means foreffecting a readily separable rigid connection between the shaft and thesleeve, and a rubber member interposed between and renitently retardingrotative reference to the hosel.

15. The combination with a golf club head having a hosel of a shaftsocket member, means for preventing accidental displacement thereof inthe hosel and permitting rotative movement of the same, a shaft, and arenitent member vulcanized to the shaft socket member and held therebyin compressive coaction with the hosel.

16. 'The combination wth a golf club head having a hosel provided with asocket terminating at one end within the hosel of a sleeve providing ashaft socket member, said sleeve being located Within the socket in thehosel, removable means at the bottom of the last named socket forretaining the sleeve against accidental displacement and permitting therotation thereof, and a rubber sleeve independent of the last namedmeans and carried peripherally of the shaft socket sleeve and heldthereby in compressive coacton with the wall of the hosel socket.

17. A golf club according to claim 14 in which the sleeve has a.shoulder engaging the rubber member.

18. A golf club according to claim 14 in which the sleeve has a flangeat its outer end and the retaining means for the sleeve is a cap screwedon the hosel and overlying the hanged end of the sleeve.

19. A golf club according to claim 14 in which the means for preventingaxial displacement of the sleeve is located at the bottom portion of thesocket in the hosel.

20. A golf club according to claim 14 in which the retaining means forthe sleeve is concealed by the shaft when in place and accessible forremoval when the shaft is disconnected.

movement of the sleeve in 21. The combination with a golf club headVhaving a hosel of a sleeve arranged in the socket 0f the hoselconcentric to the wall thereof, and providing a shaft socket,interengaging surfaces on the shaft and sleeve for readily coupling anduncoupling the shaft and sleeve, means in the hosel concealed by theshaft when it is in place and accessible for removal on the removal ofthe shaft for preventing accidental displacement of the sleeve andpermitting rotative movement thereof, and a renitent element vulcanizedto the periphery of the sleeve and held by the latter in compressivecoaction with the wall of the hosel socket.

22. A golf club head and hosel assembly comprising a rigid shaft socketmember located within the hosel coaxially of the same and provided withmeans for detachably engaging the shaft, means for preventing accidentallengthwise displacement of the socket member and for permitting rotativemovement thereof, and a renitent member vulcanized to the periphery ofthe socket member and lengaging the wall of the hosel socket forrenitently retarding rotation of the socket member in the hosel.

` vrotative, movement thereof.

/ from the shaft and in combination, a golf clubY 24. In a completeVgolfA club head assembly apart head having a h osel provided with anaxial socket opening out at one end through the upper end ofthehosel andterminating at its opposite end Avvithinthe hosel, a rotatable shaftsocket member having means for effecting connection to the club shaft,means for preventing lengthwise dlsplacement of the member in the socketand permitting turning thereof, and means integral with said member forrenitently retarding such turn'- ing movement, the latter means beingheld under compression betweenlthe shaft socket member and the wall vofthe socket in the hosel.

25. As a part of means for effecting a connection between a golf clubhead and its shaft, a. metallic sleeve havinginternalmeans for effectinga rigid coupling to the shaft, anda sleeve o! rubber compositionvulcanized to its periphery.

